What Can I Expect To Do If I Join A Mixed Martial Arts Gym?
I know all gyms are different by in general what can I expect to do?
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“Expect to get beat up”? Do those who answer that even train?
Most MMA gyms will have separate classes for striking (boxing, kickboxing, Muay Thai) and grappling (wrestling, BJJ, Judo, submission grappling). Your first class will almost certainly be in one of those, not an all-in MMA class.
Most classes follow a similar routine: warm-ups, then technique drills, and maybe some sparring to finish up.
Warm-ups may consist of body-weight exercises, running/cardio, and maybe some light weight work. In a striking class, there’s a good chance you’ll be skipping rope and shadowboxing as well. In a grappling class, you’ll probably drill solo grappling movements, like rolls, bridging, and moving your hips in a snake-like fashion.
Technique drills in a striking class may consist of drills on a heavy (“punching”) bag, on pads that your coach or partner is holding, or with your partner using boxing gloves and pre-set combinations. In grappling, you’ll be drilling throws, escapes, and submissions with a partner. In most cases, they’ll try to hook you up with a partner of equal size.
Sparring will vary depending on the class you’re taking. Obviously, if you’re in a boxing class, sparring will consist only of punches to the head and body; in Judo, throws and some groundwork will be emphasized; in Muay Thai, you can punch, kick, clinch, and deliver controlled knee and maybe elbow strikes (by “controlled” think “light and slow”); in BJJ, you’ll spend most of the time on the ground, and so on. In any good school, the person you spar with won’t be trying to injure you. However, you are entering a contest of combat skills; expect to get punched, thrown, choked, or whatever else is appropriate for the type of sparring you’re doing. Like all new things, you shouldn’t expect to be as good as people who’ve been doing it longer than you. Don’t get discouraged, however. Just have fun and enjoy the experience. Ask for feedback from the guys you spar and drill with. Despite the image on TV of MMA fighters as hyper-aggressive individuals, I’ve yet to be in a gym where I didn’t feel welcome. A gym is an extended family of sorts, and most guys like to help their partners improve as fighters.
Go in expecting a practice session and not a fight, and you should be fine.
Oh, you’ll want to get a mouth guard and cup to begin with. For a striking class, 14-16oz gloves are a good idea, too; no laces, either just elastic pull-ons or hook-and-loop velcro style. For grappling, a rash guard and board shorts are good, for starters. If you stick with it, you’ll find out what other stuff you have to buy. A bottle of water is a good idea, too…
Comment by callsign — February 26, 2010 @ 7:39 am
if ur a beginner and have no knowledge of anything then expect to get beat up, but if u got some backround of something then u’ll probably work on some technique things (throwing hands, take downs, submissions, etc.) then some sparring. thats the best part
Comment by Anthony — February 26, 2010 @ 12:06 pm
U CAN EXPECT PEOPLE TRYIN TO POUND ON U on ur first day AND IF UR BARELY BEGGINGIN tehn u will probaly get the feeling to puke if u train non-stop for 2 hours in a conditioning drill…
expect to meet new people…tahts all i know
Comment by big kc — February 26, 2010 @ 12:44 pm
I think it’ll be great
Comment by ? Bâý Øf PLèn†ÿ ? — February 26, 2010 @ 7:31 pm